Anyone: Wilson X1Grand Slamm/ Lamm ML2's

i would think that a blanket statement here would be a mistake. on this combination, room size and listening tastes would be big varibles in apparent performance.

in a small room with an emphasis on intimate accoustical type music i would think that this combo could be 'incredible'.....as David writes.

in a big space, on 'big music', this combo would be exposed as dynamically limited and lacking the ability to 'energise' the room.

typically X-1's are in fairly large rooms. and in my experience X-1's will improve as they are fed more and more current. so while the 2 pairs of ML2's would be engaging.....the X-1's would be restricted in their ultimate abilities. if a person can financially consider 2 pairs of ML2's, there are other speaker or amp combos that might work better than this particular one for large spaces.

Hi Mike,

>>in a small room with an emphasis on intimate accoustical type music i would think that this combo could be 'incredible'.....as David writes<<

This isn't what I meant nor what I wrote, and you also know that I judge everything playing classical music. The ML2/X1 combo plays full orchestral music in pretty decent sized rooms, at live volumes, with ease, jazz and rock is a sinch. You need to experience two pairs of ML2s and an X-1 then you'll realize what I mean by virtually unlimited power. I'm not talking theoretical here, its real power.

>>if a person can financially consider 2 pairs of ML2's, there are other speaker or amp combos that might work better than this particular one for large spaces.<<

There's nothing that can touch the ML2 on purity of sound and naturalness, you've never experienced real live bass reproduced properly until you hear the ML2s; and in combination with the X-1 you have a foundation that nothing I've heard can even begin to approach; unless you add an XS. I know you had the Watt/Puppy but they're not the X-1 and Puppies need a lot more power to play loud. There's a lot to a great high end system and playing at realistic levels is only one of them, the X-1s are phenomenal speakers sometimes given a bad rap due to bad setup and weak ancillary equipment, otherwise they have detail, speed, realism and a sound stage way ahead of most other speakers in their price point and higher. The only other speaker I know of equal quality is the JM Labs Grand Utopia, I can't comment on the Alexandria since I never heard them in a familiar environment.

I'm not sure what you mean by large spaces, one of the systems we set up was in a 35' x 60' x 13'.6" room and there was no shortage of power there. Of course one of our vintage horn systems with a pair of ML2s can play louder but that's a totally different story.

David, i have nothing but a great respect for your opinions.
but we might disagree on what is acceptable in terms of having the dynamics to energise a room. as i said, even in a large room this combo would be engaging.....but would also sound somewhat 'lost'. this is just my opinion on how i like a system to sound.

i want more dynamic 'grip' than 18 + 18 watts can potentially achieve in a large space on X-1's. i have heard the ML2's on Kharmas in fairly large spaces.....where you might have felt they had plenty of dynamics i thought they were underpowered.

when low power is used in big spaces (unless some sort of +100db efficient horn system is used) it just doesn't do it for me.

while i agree that the ML2's are great amps......there are others i like at that same level with more dynamic potential for larger spaces.

i would not argue at all that the strengths of the ML2 are considerable even in a large room.....but it's drawbacks would be unacceptable to ME considering the investment alternatives.

>>i have heard the ML2's on Kharmas in fairly large spaces.....where you might have felt they had plenty of dynamics i thought they were underpowered.<<

Please define fairly large spaces, for me a 30' x 60' x13' is fairly large. I know you've heard the Exqusites at our large exhibits but the Kharmas aren't the Grand Slamm and as many attributes as the Kharmas may have, playing loud is not one of them. The Exquisites will never play loud and in reality they don't work well in large spaces either; I should know!

Forget about all the other attributes, ML2s and Grand Slamm can play extremely loud and have incredible dynamics, I know that you've never heard this combination and you'll be very surprised when you hear it. In two instances we replaced fairly large SS amps with the ML2s and not only there was no loss of dynamics there actually was a lot more! This is a combination that you have to hear before judging.

David,

30' x 60'x 13' is extremely large.

i have a friend with a 40' x 28' x 14' foot room (that i consider large) that had X-1's for 6 years until he recently got the JM Labs Grand Utopia Be's. i listened to many amps (of many different configurations and power levels) in that room with him. the X-1's always took advantage of additional power reserves. the lower powered amps did many great things but would have clear limitations.

specifically i did not hear a pair of ML2's in that room on the X-2's.....so i will defer to your personal experience. but my guess is that in a large room like my friend's it would not be what 'I' would choose.